Nokia Normandy Android smartphone prototype spotted

A new image reportedly showing Nokia’s Normandy Android smartphone in the flesh has appeared online, just days after the first images of the company’s custom Android interface were leaked.

The latest leaked image, posted to Twitter by Chinese user @seamissu, apparently shows an “engineering prototype” handset, which is covered by a protective casing that obscures the rest of the design. However, the single capacitive touch button at the bottom centre of the handset, which would usually show a Windows logo if it were a Windows Phone 8 device, instead shows a Back arrow – suggesting that this will indeed run a different operating system.

When notorious tech tweeter @evleaks posted images of Nokia’s proposed Android skin, it seemingly confirmed reports that the company was attempting a complete transformation for Google’s mobile operating system, much in the same way that Amazon customises it for the Kindle Fire HD. Solid blocks of colour, familiar fonts and angular icons look very similar to existing Windows Phone 8 handsets, albeit with a few unique visual twists and a custom lockscreen filled with notifications.

If it comes to market at all, Normandy is expected to be an entry-level or mid-range handset that will compliment Nokia’s existing Asha range, albeit with better access to smartphone apps.

With Nokia set to make an appearance at next month’s Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona, we may not have long to wait to find out the company’s plans for Normandy, and Android in general.